AD 6th Oct issue | Seite 15

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15

VIEWS FROM YOUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

Omission speaks volumes

RACGP apologises after

Dr photo caption sparks racism claims

I am very confused . Surely it was careless not to include the names in the picture caption , not racist .

It is easy to sling labels around without , seemingly , any basis .

I would think , among the medical colleges , the RACGP would be the most varied and representative of our population .

Dr Jonathan Gibson Anaesthetist , Sydney , NSW

Have we considered that maybe the person doing the photo caption simply did not know the names ?

Do we always have to assume the worst motives in everyone every time ?

Dr Joe Kosterich GP , Perth , WA

You would not believe that it occurs until you have experienced it yourself .

I am a 165cm-tall Asian man with a boyish face who happened to be the director of a department in a large teaching hospital .

I have colleagues who are tall white men . And it is so funny to see people making assumptions as to the director of the department during meetings outside of the department .

Dr Christopher Wong Radiologist , Sydney , NSW

Racial bias in the RACGP is something that is being brought to light with this discussion .

White doctors may not feel that it is important since it does not affect us . But it is important .

How can we have unity in the college with our struggles against payroll tax and inadequate funding if we cannot agree that doctors from various racial and ethnic backgrounds should have their concerns about racial bias taken seriously ?

There is a distinction to be made between conscious and unconscious racial bias .

However , the main issue here is how to improve our own awareness and behaviour on this topic .

Dr John Kennedy GP , Grafton , NSW

No wonder GPs are jumping ship

Fears of GP exodus as

Dr practices close in battler suburbs

Our Primary Health Network is always supportive .

Unfortunately , the government regulations make it harder for us to find and employ doctors .

All the red tape , overhead expenses and state and federal taxes are suffocating our businesses .

Dr George Al-Horani GP , Sydney , NSW

Hey , Mark Butler , see that light at the end of the tunnel ? Hear that noise ?

The government has no idea what is happening . It is shuffling deck chairs .

Dr Anthony Page GP , Gawler , SA

Time to radically change the health system .

It is disgusting that we now live in a country where only the rich get decent care .

I have worked in low socioeconomic communities all my working career .

To deliver the best care requires much higher skill levels than are required for full fee – paying middle-class populations with high health literacy .

Yet those doing the toughest and most complex work are paid the least money in the least well-remunerated specialty in medicine .

Many specialty craft groups are refusing to see non-privately insured patients who are not full fee paying .

No wonder GPs in battler suburbs are heading off the top of a cliff .

Our health system is f *** ed .

Dr Ken Lambert GP , Newcastle , NSW

Supporting patients in these culturally and linguistic diverse communities is tough .

But you can also try a simple consult with a patient with no verbal communication , who uses eye movements and alphabet . Even 30 minutes is too short .

I see many of these patients as I specialise in disability medicine .

Difficult communication , problematic examinations , medication charts and written consult details for everyone .

And I do bulk-bill all because they are some of the most disadvantaged of my patients .

Dr Charlotte Goodall GP , Adelaide , SA

It is not exactly roses in the wellto-do suburbs .

Yes , they may live in million-dollar properties , but the demographic is generally a lot older , and many also have pension cards .

They all vie for bulk-billing slots or fight tooth and nail for bulk-billing rates even when they have booked private-billing slots .

The work is stressful , and figuring out charges makes it more so .

Dr Maxy Mariasegaram GP , Melbourne , Vic

The right to earn your daily bread

Doctors accused of militancy after first joint strike in NHS history

Well , any other union would have gone on strike decades ago — just ask Maggie Thatcher .

Apparently , it is medically unethical for consultants to ask for a living wage .

The $ 36 an hour for the job they do is pathetic .

Come to Australia — even if you have to steal a loaf of bread .

At least you can afford to live here .

Dr John Davis GP , Warwick , Qld

Valiant fight in the face of tragedy

‘ I can interpret my own

Dr pathology slides — I knew I had months to live ’

Dr Richard Scolyer is a

wonderful person and an excellent pathologist .

His brain cancer diagnosis has affected the entire pathology community .

I applaud his decision to use his knowledge to experiment on himself as only he could .

I would do the same in his position .

Dr Peta Fairweather Pathologist , Brisbane , Qld

Pushing to minimise the trauma

‘ Obstetric violence ’

MO casts doctors as perpetrators – but we can do better for women who have suffered

Very well written , Dr Vijay Roach .

I concur that using the words ‘ obstetric violence ’ is counterproductive to the main issue .

Birth can be traumatising for the woman , the family and carers . This should be acknowledged .

We should explore ways to minimise the negative effects of the trauma .

Sometimes , it is as simple as listening and , when replying , choosing the words you use very carefully .

Is pharmacy training a shortcut to a doctor ’ s life ?

Dr

Pharmacists to complete two hours of training to diagnose UTIs

I still practise procedural GP obstetrics and find it rewarding to share a woman ’ s journey from preconception through to pregnancy , birth and then mothering . And we all know there will always be bumps in the road — some of them catastrophic .

I feel honoured to be the family GP who can be there if they wish .

Dr Marc Heyning GP , Brunswick Heads , NSW

Cheap body shops will always exist

Ironically , I had to prove that my Masters of Psychiatry was equivalent to the short course required to provide GP mental health care plans .

But now , a very short course is going to be equivalent to the years of supervised medical and clinical training required to make diagnoses and treat medical conditions ?

Dr Leesa Cornthwaite GP , Melbourne , Vic

Why the medical board can ’ t prevent untrained doctors from doing cosmetic surgery

Every industry or profession from car sales up has its dodgy end of town , which regulations and laws can never entirely corral or outlaw .

These areas of less satisfactory endeavour exist because they offer hope at cheaper prices and in more accessible ways than elsewhere . After all , cheap cars are not bought for their safety and longterm reliability .

Dr Michael Copeman Medical practitioner , Sydney , NSW